No Thanksgiving? No Black Friday? Must be a terrorist
By David Fisher. Filed in life |Tags: Uncategorized
I am not observing Thanksgiving, nor doing the Black Friday shopping madness thing this year. That probably gets me on some special FBI watchlist and a no-fly list for anti-American activities for sure. I’m even planning to work a decent amount today (albeit mainly on my own ventures, but I’m still logged into IRC for work and checking my to-do lists).
I’m not doing Thanksgiving because I have no family around here (and no friends that I felt I could invite myself to their tables), and I simply hate traveling on Thanksgiving after a 14 hour, 5 airport trip from Greensboro to Boston that I had a few years ago, whereas I can drive it in 12 hours.
No Black Friday, because I don’t really believe in ’sales’ and buying for the sake of buying. I don’t do my Christmas shopping until Dec 20th at best. If there was something that I really wanted that was $200 off, but I had to stand outside, in Boston, at 3am until the store opened and then still only have a chance at getting it, then I still wouldn’t do it. It’s simply not worth it. The only sale that I ‘might’ participate in, is the stupidly crazy one that Amazon has. No lines, no waiting, no traffic, no carrying large boxes home. I’m cool with that, and if I can get a Wii for $79, then alright. If I don’t like it, then I can eBay it.
I will also watch no Football. Yes, I am just that lame.
I don’t think it’s lame to opt out of Thanksgiving! I opted out this year for the first time and it was refreshing and liberating! I opted out of Thanksgiving with my extended family and parents and siblings….but, I opted in to have thanksgiving for my own kids in our own home. I rejected every invitation from concerned friends.
I cooked the traditional feast. It was quiet for once. I existed without verbal or emotional abuse. I didn’t feel dizzy or faint from anxiety. I didn’t have to promise myself I would never do this again after it was all over.
actually, thanksgiving in the safety of my own home, with peace for my children was a real blessing. Something to be truly thankful for.
I shared this only to tell you, that you have been given the gift of breathing life in this time in the universe. You have the right to be safe and to have peace. Conforming to anyone’s or society’s ideal holiday is sometimes not in our best interest. Make each day your own. Don’t forget to share your creativity and peace with another, and be thankful for that opportunity when it is lived.